4 Reasons Why Your Company Should be Publishing a Newsletter

by James Fowler
www.mywebsource1.com

Creating a newsletter can be a daunting task for those that do not like to write. What is worse, once you start a newsletter you feel like you are committed to coming up with something on a re-occurring basis. Well, as terrifying as it may seem, a newsletter is a good way to increase your business and retain customers. It will also help you create a solid customer database by which you can target your advertising efforts.

Who should receive your newsletter? A hard copy of your newsletter should be passed out to each and every customer that walks through your door. Present it to them as a “Free Gift” for shopping at your store. Invite them to sign up for a monthly newsletter for being a valued customer. Explain to them the benefits of receiving your newsletter. Like your business card, your newsletter will offer a way for that customer to contact you and get valuable information on your store and products.

Let’s look into four reasons why you should be publishing that newsletter on a monthly basis.

The News. This is most likely what you perceive when thinking about a newsletter. Information is a valuable tool and letting your customers know what you have available and what is new will help bring them to your business. This is especially a good way to introduce new products, announce promotions, offer coupons, and sell featured items with a well-thought out script. The purpose of this is to re-familiarize your business with those who haven’t been to your store in some time. They may be unaware of a new development in your business. There may be something that you can offer that will make their lives easier. You need to tell them.

Keeping in Touch. You are at your business every day. What seems mundane and ordinary to you, is something all-together new to your customer who visits your store 1 or 2 times a month. A newsletter is also a venue for you to introduce that new employee you just hired. What changes are happening at your business? How do you foresee the future of your business’ industry? After all, you are the expert. By personalizing the newsletter with “inside information”, your customers feel closer to you and your business. It is well-known, people frequent those places in which they feel comfortable. This supersedes price and product availability. Reach out and touch your customers and make them feel welcome.

Knowing your Customers. Do you know your customers? Do you have a list of their information? If you had an online newsletter, you’d have the tools to gather that information. Each time you hand out a paper version of your newsletter to someone that walks into your store, ask them for their email address. Build a list in your spreadsheet program. Write it down on paper. Just get those email addresses. In no time you will build your list and know your customer base. If you want to have a sale, write an email and you have your sale circulating amongst your faithful clients.

Let me offer a bit of advice on gathering email addresses. It is extremely important that you allow your customers to know that you will never give your list away. Nothing angers a person more when they sign up for something and then are deluged in a sea of spam. If you sell their names to some company you are asking for a negative response from your customers. So keep that list to yourself!

The Power of Permission. Permission marketing is way of getting the customer to allow you into their lives. When you get a customer’s email address to have you send them your newsletter, they are giving you permission to contact them. This is wonderful news! You now have a customer who wants to hear from you. They want to hear what you have to offer. This is your foot in the door with your newsletter. By giving you permission to receive your newsletter, trust is gained. With that trust, the customer is more willing to listen to what you are offering in your newsletter. By including them in your circle, they will become a repeating customer, and eventually a life-long customer. Life-long customers tell their friends about businesses they trust. A free newsletter is the piece of trust that will grow your business.

So you see, a newsletter is much more than a terrifying paper that you have to write. It is a soapbox for you to tout your business, offer ideas, promote your services and goods, and a foundation to build lifelong customers. If you do not currently have a newsletter, you should start creating one today. Your business will thank you for it.

myWebsource1 creates HTML newsletters for businesses and organizations. Contact us to help you in the right direction for your newsletter today.